Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 11:07:45 +0200
From: ilga
Subject: Chile: Protests - HIV Infections
3 September 1996
Dear ILGA Press Contacts and Friends,
the following story was forwarded to me from:
CONTACT Magazine, Hong Kong, who forwarded it on behalf of:
Positive Humanists and Friends Club, San Francisco. P.O. Box 460580, San
Francisco, CA 94146,
USA Phone (415) 285-0606, Fax (415) 285-1918 e-mail hobiwan@a.crl.com,
Chilean Government Infects People With HIV
Call to Action: Chile needs bleach
Please take action about this case: Forward it to all lists you know of.
Below you have the story and a call to action. The story was reviewed by
Tomas Hirsch President of the Humanist Party in Chile for its accuracy.
August 28, 1996
Chilean Government Infects People with HIV
How people were carelessly infected with HIV in Chile
On August 5th in Santiago, a group of 37 Chilean prisoners were moved from
one prison to another. The prison officials did this to avoid a
court-ordered investigation of the atrocious living conditions of gay
prisoners. The records accompanying the transfer clearly showed that 22 of
the 37 had HIV.
Upon arriving at the Colina prison, the men were ordered to strip and were
all given the Elisa test for HIV. All the prisoners interviewed stated that
the prison medic only used 10 needles for all 37 prisoners, knowingfull well
that 22 were already infected with HIV.
By the 8th of August, the lawyer who asked for the investigation of the
conditions, Trinidad Lathrop of Centro Lambda Chile, visited some of the
prisoners who told her the story. She also spoke to the medic who gave the
tests, and he flatly denied the prisoners' version and stated that needles
were used. The medics statements, however, were contradictory. She then
asked Humanist Party President Tomas Hirsch to help in the case. After
repeatedly trying to contact the Chief Medical Officer of Chilean prisons
and receiving no response, Tomas Hirsch and Trinidad Lathrop decided to hold
a press conference on August 11. They asked that a full investigation be
made regarding the prisoners accusations. The Chilean and international
press gave this news item widespread coverage including an article in the
New York Times on August 13.
On August 12th, an indignant National Director of the Chilean Prisons,
Mr.Martinez, gave a press conference intended to show how the procedures
used in Chilean prisons would not allow such gross crime. After the press
conference, a lawsuit was filed against Tomas Hirsch for defamation of
character.
On August 13, Tomas Hirsch, Trinidad Lathrop and Roberto Pablo, President of
Centro Lambda Chile visited the prisoners to obtain written testimony. They
were allowed to speak to only 6 of the 37. All six gave the same testimony
that only 10 needles had been used to test all 37 inmates. While they were
at the prison, the chief medical officer called them. In their interview
with him, they asked if an investigation had taken place. He said yes.
Trinidad Lathrop asked if this "investigation" consisted solely in speaking
to the medic who administered the test. Again he said yes. They asked if he
had spoken to any of the prisoners. He said there was no need for that, as
his eyes were there while the test was being given, and 37 needles were
used. He was much more concerned with his reputation, and the reputation of
the Chilean prison system, than with the accusation that 15 people were
carelessly infected by a prison medic.
If these accusations are true, this is a crime against humanity. Justice
must be administered. This case is probably only the tip of the iceberg,
regarding prisoners treatment with HIV throughout the world, and in Chile in
particular. People are treated as throwaway objects. Certainly, when it
comes to HIV care, many so called developing nations have the resources to
provide first class medical treatment but they chose to spend those
resources elsewhere. This in itself is a crime against humanity. It is time
that the governments of the world end all discrimination against the people
who live within their boundaries, regardless of a persons race, health,
religion, economic status, HIV status or sexual preference. All people
deserve to be treated with dignity. Health care and education should be the
top priorities of every government. End the violence, let human
reconciliation begin.
________________________________________________________
What you can do to protest the infection of 15 people by a prison medic in
Chile. We ask that you do the following: 1)Immediately boycott all products
produced or made in Chile. This includes wines, agricultural products, etc.
2)Buy a bottle of bleach and take it, or send it, to the Chilean consulate
or embassy nearest you. If you like, organize press conferences,
demonstrations, etc. Please keep us informed as to your actions. On the
bottle of bleach, tape or glue the following message:
_____________________ "Dear Chilean Consul (or Ambassador): Please forward
this gift to the Ministry of Justice, Santiago, Chile. Sirs: I would
like to donate this 59 cent bottle of bleach to you. I know that, even
though Chile is considered the economic miracle of Latin America, you must
have budget problems because only 10 needles were used to test 37 inmates in
Colina 2 prison on August 5 in Santiago. The needles were not sterilized
between uses. With a small portion of this bleach, you can now sterilize
many needles and reuse them. By doing this you will prevent the spread of
the HIV virus.
I ask that a full investigation be made of this case by the highest
authorities in Chile. I also ask that a full apology be made to Tomas Hirsch
of the Humanist Party, and that the defamation of character lawsuit be
dropped.
Furthermore, if the accusations prove to be true, I demand that those who
were carelessly infected be given the very best treatment available for the
HIV virus. (Please see the American Medical Association document of July 10,
1996 "Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection in 1996".) I ask that you
reply to this request in writing to the address below. Sincerely, (your name
and address)"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association
81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org
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